But a Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “Following another visit on Saturday to the hospital where he remains an in-patient, detectives have still not been able to obtain an account from the man who was found with serious injuries early on Thursday morning.”

She added that inquiries were continuing.

Shocked family and friends are still coming to terms with the attack on Mr Hewitt, who lives on a travellers’ site close to the A66 on John Boyle Road near South Bank.